Street refuse collecting and transporting machine



H. B. KEOGH Sept. 28, 1954 STREET REFUSE COLLECTING AND TRANSFORTINGMACHINE Filed Sept. 2. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l M Pm W m I L l, I I r 6 n"H MH k m. w, \Q N QMM MW W u M A A I mw fl ,4 wk i Q M 04 I q Q Sept.28, 1954 H. B. KEOGH 2,690,353

STREET REFUSE COLLECTING AND TRANSPORTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1950 5Sheets-Sheet 2 #Ebus/ 2264 Sept. 28, 1954 H. B. KEOGH STREET REFUSECOLLECTING AND TRANSPORTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 2, 1950P 1954 H. a. KEOGH 2,690,353

STREET REFUSE COLLECTING AND TRANSPORTING' MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1950 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept 1954 H. B. KEOGH 2,690,353

STREET REFUSE COLLECTING AND TRANSPORTING MACHINE q/wa-d fl a.

Patented Sept. 28, 1954 ATENT OFFICE STREET REFUSE COLLECTING AND TRANSPOR'EIN G MACHINE Hedley Benjamin Keogh, Thornbury, Victoria, AustraliaApplication September 2, 1950, Serial No. 182,937

Claims priority, application Australia September 5, 1949 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to street sweeping machines and refers to thetransportation and disposal of refuse, dirt and rubbish collected,elevated and deposited in a hopper mounted on the machine as the lattertraverses a street or roadway.

It is customary in practice to mount the front hopper at the end of themachine in a fixed position, with the door at the base of the hopperdisposed at a low level above the road or other surface being traversedby the machine.

In emptying such a fixed hopper, the door is released and the contentsof the hopper are deposited upon the roadway and shovelled by roadoperatives into trucks for transportation to a rubbish tip or otherplace of disposal.

Such a method of collection and disposal is obviously laborious,time-consuming and resultantly expensive.

Now the principal objective of this invention is the provision in astreet sweeping machine of means whereby the dirt and rubbish collectedby a road sweeping machine may be expeditiously discharged from thehopper directly into a truck or other vehicle for disposal, therebyavoiding the slow and expensive manual shovelling now usual.

An object of the invention is to provide a street sweeping machine ofsimple, durable and relatively inexpensive construction, which isdurable and highly efiicient in use and operated and controlled by asingle operative.

A further object of the invention is to provide a street sweepingmachine in which the hopper is positioned at the front of the machineand is clearly visible and at all times under the full control of thedriver.

The accompanying drawings depict an illustrative practical embodiment ofan elevatable refuse collection hopper according to the invention asapplied to a street sweeping machine.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the elevatable hopper and street sweepingmachine, showin the former in the filling position and the latter inoutline schematically.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan of the collection hopper and street sweepingmachine.

Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation of the elevatable hopper and streetsweeping machine, showing the former in raised dumpin position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly sectional showing a portion of thesupport of the elevatable hopper and the control and operating means foractuating and locking the discharge door of the hopper.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the lower portion of theelevatable hopper showing the means for closing and locking thedischarge door of the hopper.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan of the discharge door of the hopper showingthe closing and locking means of the former.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of hydraulically operated means for raisingand lowering the elevatable hopper.

Referring now to the drawings, a hopper 5 is positioned at the front endof a street sweeping machine indicated generally by 6, and receives thematerial swept by a rotary broom or brush 1 from the roadway through anelevating conveyor la in the usual manner.

Secured to the hopper 5 on opposite sides thereof are angle brackets 8which seat upon extensions 9 of the frame In of the machine and supportthe hopper in the filling position in the open space between theextension. The hopper has secured thereto a curved member or beam l I ofbox section which is disposed upwardly at the front of the hopper 5 andextends across the top [2 thereof, and rearwardly from the hopper for arequired distance.

The cross-sectional depth of the curved beam 1 l increases from theouter or lower end, but the width, that is the distance between theopposite sides 13, is substantially constant from end to end of thebeam, see Figs. 1 and 2.

The rearward extension of the beam II is substantially straight andlocated above and in spaced relation from the frame ll] of the machine,and at the rear end It the beam is pivotally supported by a shaft orjournal l5 in bearings 18 carried by brackets or supports comprisingmembers ii and i8 secured to the frame It and upwardly extendedtherefrom. The members l8 are connected by angular section pieces l9 andbraced laterally by stays 20.

It will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2 that the box section beam I!comprises a pivoted arm to support the hopper which can be angularlymoved or swung upwardly by the arm upon the bearings It to permit thehopper 5 to be raised from the normal supported filling position on themachine frame as shown by Fig. 1, and carried upwardly to a requiredheight for dumping, i. e. to the dumping position, see Fig. 3.

To that end, there is provided a hydraulic motor indicated generally at2| and comprising a cylinder 22 interposed between the beam or arm H andthe frame IE] of the machine, see Figs. 1 and 7.

The cylinder 22 is pivotally supported by a shaft 23 journaled inbearings 24 integral with a bracket 25 secured to a transverse member 26of the machine frame, and the cylinder is fitted with a ram 2? which ispivotally connected by a crosshead 23 to a shaft 29 carried in plates 35extending between and integrally united with supports 3i of channelsection welded to lateral plates 32 Comprising the sides E3 of the arm Il.

The cylinder 22 is supplied with motive fluid delivered through a pipe35 under required pressure by a power operated pump (not shown) on themachine through a non-return or check valve 3 3 of suitableconstruction. By means of remotely controlled valve 22a in a branchconnected with the return pipe 38 motive fluid may be admitted to thecylinder through a pipe 35 and discharged from the cylinder throughreturn pipe 36, or retained in the cylinder so as to support the ram 27,the arm ll connected therewith and the hopper in the raised dumpingposition.

Normally the control valve 22a is in the open position, wherein thesupply pipe 33 through the check valve 3d and the cylinder 22 throughthe pipe 35 are in communication with the pipe 55 which through thetubular T-fitting 36a is connected with ports 220 in the cylinder 22,see Fig. 7'.

The portion of the cylinder above the ram 2'! comprises a reservoir orcontainer for motive fluid, preferably though not essentially a suitableoil, and in the normal open position of the control valve 2260, theportions of the cylinder 22 above and below the ram 2T1 are incommunication by way of the ports 22b and 220, fitting 35a, pipe 36,control valve 22a and the pipe 35.

Oil accordingly in the open position of the valve 22a is delivered fromthe oil pump (not shown) through the check valve 54 and flows throughthe open valve to the pipe 35 and is returned to the inlet of the pump,no oil passing into or out of the cylinder 22.

In order to thrust the ram 2? upwardly to elevate the beam I! and hopperas described, the control valve 22a is closed by the driver of themachine, to shut ofi connection of the supply pipe 33 with the pipe 35.

Oil under pressure resultantly passes through the pipe 35 into thecylinder 22 and thrusts the ram 2'! upwardly to elevate the beam andhopper.

As the ram rises, oil in the portion of the cylinder 22 above the formerpasses outwardly through the ports 22b and 220 and passing into the pipe36 is circulated through the pump and enters the cylinder 22 through thepipe 35, under pressure to raise the ram. Thus as the ram is elevatedoil passes from the portion of the cylinder above the ram into theportion of the former below the latter.

The ram will continue to rise until it passes above the port 220 to theposition indicated by 21a, whereupon the oil entering the cylinderthrough the pipe 35 is returned to the pump via the port 2222 and thepipe 36.

In the fully raised position, the ram 21 is disposed between the ports22!) and 220, the former port providing communication between the upperpart of the cylinder and the fitting 35a and preventing trapping of oilabove the ram. In order that the cylinder 22 may be filled and toprevent the forming of pressure above the ram, there is provided afilling aperture in the upper end of the cylinder which is provided witha detachable filler plug 22d apertured to comprise a breather.

As the valve 22a continues to remain closed, the ram will be retained inthe extreme elevated position, i. e. in the position 2M above the port22b.

In order to lower the ram and return the hopper to the filling position,the driver actuates the valve 220. back to the open position shown inFig. 7., whereupon the ram 2"! and hopper descend under gravity, oilflowin from the lower portion of the cylinder to the upper portionthereof above the ram through the pipe 35, open valve 22a, pipe 35 andport 22b.

If it be desired to stop the upward movement of the rain 2-? at anintermediate position between the normal low position and the maximumelevation as determined by the port 2222, the motive fluid or oil supplypump is stopped upon the ram and hopper attaining the requiredelevation.

Upon the ram and hopper attaining the required elevation and release ofthe clutch, the former are retained in the required raised position,until the control valve 22a is opened to release the oil trapped in thecylinder as already described.

The hopper 5 is so shaped that in the normal filling position thedischarge door 3'? thereof is substantially horizontal, but in theraised or dumping position of the hopper 5 is inclined to facilitateopenin and discharge of the contents of the hopper.

The discharge door 3'? of the hopper 5 when released at the dumpingposition opens automatically under weight of the contents, and for thispurpose and also closing and locking, is actuated by the driver of themachine through servomotors operated by remote control means.

In the illustrative embodiment, the servomotors are vacuum operated andare of the type generally known as vacuum motors.

Two of such vacuum motors are provided and are mounted in the hoppersupporting arm H, the motor 38 being used to effect closing of thedischarge door 37, while the motor 39 is utilized to release the lockingmeans whereby the discharge door is retained in the closed position.

The discharge door 3'! is pivotally supported by hinge lugs 40 extendedfrom the former adjacent to the lower end of the curved beam II, andangularly movable upon a transverse shaft 4| carried by brackets 42secured to the hopper 5, see Figs. 5 and 6. In opening, the dischargedoor swings outwardly as shown by Fig. 3, and as the door moves thehinge lugs 40 partially rotate upon the shaft 4|.

In order that the door 31 may be closed by the motor 38, the latter isconnected by a cable 43 to a shaft 44 fixed to lugs 45 welded to theinner side of the door, the lugs 45 and the bar 44 and cable 43 beingshielded from the contents of the hopper by a plate 46.

The door 37 is retained in the closed position by spring-influencedlatches 47 which as the door closes, engage a catch plate 48 and snapinto slots, indicated by 49, formed in the latter. To ensure engagementof the latches with the catch plate, the ends of the former and latterare appropriately bevelled, see Fig. 5.

The door 31 is of hollow construction, and the latches 4'! are disposedtherein and guided through slots in a latch plate 50 forming the openingedge of the door.

The latches 41 are secured to a transverse bar 47a, and the latter isconnected by a guided stem 5|, lugs 52 integral with the stem, and a pin53 to a rod 54 slidable through a fixed guide 55 and connected by links56 to arms 51 secured to a sleeve 58 rotatable upon the transverse shaftI'll, see Figs. 5 and 6.

'62 are three ports 12, I3 and M.

Encircling the rod 54 and positioned between the fixed guide 55 and anadjusting nut 59 is a spring 60 which exerts a thrust upon the stem 5!and bar 41a, so as to extend the latches 4'! for resilient engagementwith the catch plate 48 and thereby retain the door 31 in the closedposition.

For the purpose of releasing the latches 4? from the catch plate 48, thearms 5! are connected by a cable 6! with the motor 39, which upon beingoperated withdraws the latches against the resistance of spring 6! Themotors 38 and 39 are actuated by the driver of the machine throughremote control means which comprises conveniently a semi-rotarycylindrical valve 62, having a plug 63 angularly movable by a handle 64shown in Fig. 4 in a neutral position.

The control valve 62 is connected by a pipe 65 with a vacuum chamber 66which at 61 is con nected in the usual way with the induction manifoldof the engine (not shown).

The pipe 65 is connected with an axial passage 68 in the plug 83 whichis formed with a port 69 extending radially from the passage 63 and witha partly circumferential groove 1%.

Formed in the casing H of the control valve The port 12 is in constantconnection with the groove Hi and externally with the atmosphere. Theport 13 is connected by a pipe 75 with the motor 3%, while the port itis connected with the motor 39 by a pipe 16.

As shown in Fig. 4, the control valve 62 is in the neutral position, theradial port 69 is not associated with either port 73 or M and bothmotors through the respective pipes l5 and 16, ports 13 and 14, groovel9 and port F2 are in communication with the atmosphere.

If the handle 6Q as viewed in Fig. 4, be turned clockwise, the radialport 69 may be connected with the port .14 and pipe l6, so as to connectthe motor 39 with the chamber 68, whereby a vacuum is created in theformer, which is operated by differential pressure in the usual way,while the motor 38 byway of the pipe 15, port 13, groove 10 and port 12continues to be connected with the atmosphere.

Upon the handle being turned counterclockwise, to connect the radialport 69 withithe port '83, it will be apparent that the motor 33 will beoperated while the motor 39 continues to be connected to atmosphere.

In operation, and as the machine traverses a street or roadway, therotary broom l sweeps refuse to the elevating conveyor la, which carries the collected refuse and rubbish upwardly to pass through a fillingaperture Ti at the upper part of the hopper 5 into the latter.

When the hopper is filled, the control valve 22a is actuated by thedriver to admit fluid under pressure to the cylinder 22 to therebyopcrate the ram 21 which in rising elevates the beam H and therewith thehopper 5 to the dumping position shown in Fig. 3.

The hopper may be fully elevated or partly raised to a required heightand supported by the oil trapped in the cylinder 22, as previouslydescribed herein.

The machine is then driven to position the elevated hopper over adumping point or over the body of a truck whereby the collected dirt andrefuse are transported to a rubbish tip or destructor.

When the hopper is thus located over the dumping point or truck tray,the driver actuates the control valve 62 to operate the motor 39, whichby the cable 6! withdraws the latches A! from engagement with the catchplate 48, thereby releasing the door 31 to open and discharge thecontents of the hopper 5.

Upon the hopper being emptied, the driver actuates the control valve 62to operate the motor 3 8 which by the cable 43 closes the door 31. Asthe door shuts, the latches d1 automatically re-engage the catch plate48 to retain the door closed during refilling of the hopper.

To return the hopper 5 to the filling position, the driver operates thevalve 22a to the open or exhaust position thereby connecting thecylinder 22 with the pipe 36, whereupon the hopper 5 gravitates to thefilling position, and the beam I l in moving downwardly returns the ram2? to the normal position in readiness for re-operation.

It will be observed and understood that the machine both in collectingand discharging refuse is at all times completely under the control ofthe driver, and moreover, it will be apparent that the machine greatlyfacilitates the collection and disposal of refuse in comparison with thecostly and time-consuming operations of machines whereby refuse iscollected and then re-deposited on the roadway for manual shovelling toa required position or into a truck or the like for transportation.

I claim:

1. A street sweeping machine comprising a chassis, a frame secured toand extending upwardly from the chassis, a hopper for refuse swept andelevated from the surface of streets supported by and in front of thechassis in a normal position for filling, a longitudinally disposedhollow beam secured to the hopper pivotally supported upon a transverseaxis on the frame and angularly movable in a substantially verticalplane, a door comprising the base of the hopper and openingautomatically under the weight of the refuse, remotely controlled poweroperated means mounted within the hollow beam and operatively connectedto and adapted to close the door, resiliently influenced latching meansmounted upon the door, catches on the hopper engageable by the latchingmeans to support the door, remotely controlled power activated meansWithin the hollow beam connected with and operable to release thelatching means, a hydraulic motor connected to the beam and operable toangularly move the beamto raise and lower the hopper between the normalfilling position and an elevated discharging position in advance of thechassis and support the hopper in the latter position for discharge ofthe refuse upon gravitational opening of the door responsive to releaseof the latching means by the remotely controlled power activated means,and remotely controlled valvular means controlling the operation of thehydraulic motor.

2. A street sweeping machine comprising a chassis, a frame secured toand extending upwardly from the chassis, a hopper for refuse swept andelevated from streets supported by and in front of the chassis in anormal filling position, a curvilinear longitudinally disposed hollowbeam secured to the hopper pivotally supported by and angularly movablein a vertical plane about a transverse horizontally disposed axis on theframe, a door comprising the base of the hopper opening automaticallyunder weight of the refuse, remotely controlled power operated meansmounted within the curvilinear hollow beam connected with and operableto close the door, spring influenced latches mounted on the door andautomatically engageable with catches on the hopper to support the door,remotely controlled power activated means within the hollow curvilinearbeam connected with and operable to release the latches, a hydrauliccylinder supported by the chassis, a, ram in the hydraulic cylinderoperatively connected to the beam, and remotely controlled valvularmeans controlling the admission to, exhaust from and trapping of fluidin the cylinder to respectively operate the ram to raise, lower andsupport in an elevated discharging position the beam and the hopper.

3. A street sweeping machine comprising a chassis, forward extensions ofthe chassis spaced apart to form an open space at the front of thelatter, a frame secured to and extending upwardly from the chassis, ahopper for refuse swept and elevated from streets positioned normally inthe open space and supported in a normal filling position upon thechassis extensions, a curvilinear beam extending longitudinally over andsecured to the hopper and pivotally supported upon a transversehorizontally disposed shaft journaled on the frame, a door hinged to andcomprising the base of the hopper automatically opening under weight ofthe refuse, a remotely controlled servomotor mounted on the beam andoperatively connected to and adapted to close the door,spring-influenced latches slidably mounted on the door and engageablewith catches on the hopper to support the door, a remotely controlledservomotor mounted on the beam and connected with and operable torelease the latches for gravitational opening of the door, a hydrauliccylinder supported by the chassis, a ram in the hydraulic cylinderoperatively connected to the beam, and remotely controlled valvularmeans controlling the admission to, exhaust from and trapping of fluidin the cylinder to respectively operate the ram to raise, lower andsupport in an elevated discharging position the beam and the hopper.

4. A street sweeping machine comprising a chassis, forward extensions ofthe chassis spaced apart to form an open space at the front of thelatter, a frame secured to and extending upwardly from the chassis, ahopper for refuse swept and elevated from streets positioned normally inthe open space and supported in a filling position upon the chassisextensions, a curvilinear box section beam extending longitudinally overand secured to the hopper and pivotally supported at one end for angularmovement in a substantially vertical plane upon a transversehorizontally disposed shaft journaled on the frame, a door hinged to andcomprising the base of the hopper and opening under weight of therefuse, a remotely controlled pneumatic motor mounted within the beamand operatively connected to and adapted to close the door, aspringinfluenced latch bar slidably mounted on the door and carryinglatches engageable with catches on the hopper to supportthe door, aremotely controlled pneumatic motor mounted within the beam andconnected with and operable to move the latch bar and withdraw thelatches to release the door for gravitational opening, a hydrauliccylinder pivotally supported on the chassis, a ram in the hydrauliccylinder operatively connected to the beam at a point between thetransverse horizontally disposed shaft and the hopper, and remotelycontrolled valvular means controlling the admission to, exhaust from andtrapping of fluid in the cylinder to operate the ram to respectivelyraise, lower and support in an elevated discharging position the beamand the hopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,416,041 Liddall May 16, 1922 1,673,780 Sargent June 12, 19281,800,824 Evans Apr. 14, 1931 2,141,557 Reiter Dec. 27, 1938 2,220,202Bohne Nov. 5, 1940 2,234,599 Johnston Mar. 11, 1941 2,237,838 McClishApr. 8, 1941 2,255,758 Call Sept. 16, 1941 2,369,722 Dempster Feb. 20,1945

